The outrage epidemic is disturbing the peace

The floodgates have opened for calling to account the powerful men who have abused their position for perverted pleasure. We would all applaud bringing to light these more-than-misbehaviors, hoping the next guy may take pause, and we’d continue to encourage those who are truly victims to speak out.

I’m glad to see that there is something that still outrages the remnant of a moral conscience in our increasingly amoral society.

That said, outrage is in no short supply. The moral correctness exhibited by this current wave of social indictments is more and more rare, while political correctness “victims” and their supposed transgressors seem to make every news cycle. “Offense” has a hair trigger and aims at an ever-growing target.

In Romans 12:18, Paul, in a treatise describing the marks of a true Christian, admonishes us to, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” Given the current climate, we’re grateful for the caveat, “if possible.”

With the balance of other biblical admonishments, it seems our manner is to be controlled while the truth is fixed. If there is to be offense, let the truth offend, not our manner of delivery.

I want with all my heart for people, myself included, to be considerate to those who see life differently. Bullying is never OK, but I don’t believe we’re doing anyone a favor by bowing to their hypersensitivities. (True sensitivity? Yes. 1 Corinthians 10 gives us guidance on that.) Not bowing, though, is not bullying.

But the truth is, I believe, that the outrage of a small minority is manufactured for a purpose – to normalize what was before, well, outrageous. The tactic used to demand conformity? You guessed it, bullying. Outrageous.

Like the baker whose religious convictions never kept them from serving everyone who came in their shop, but did prevent their participation in a same-sex wedding. Rather than take their business elsewhere, where there were many who’d be glad to participate, the couple sued for conformity.

Then there’s the movement that wishes to hijack our pronouns. Use the wrong one at your peril. Before, you had a fifty-fifty chance – he or she. Now, the list continues to grow with each new invented “gender” and is never fixed by biology or even surgery – only by “preference” at any given moment. Some institutions are bending over backward to comply.

As misery loves company, so does dissatisfaction draw a crowd. There are those “racist” trees lining the fairway of one golf course. In place in most golf courses are rows of trees to protect homes that abut the course. In this case, the demand came to remove the trees because they were next to a minority neighborhood. The separation was offensive. Who knows how long they’d been there before they became discriminatory.

If you keep your eyes open, you can’t help but see the spate of stories where someone is outraged by something that was okay ten years ago, or ten months, or ten minutes. Statues beware.

Know that I’m not an advocate for status quo. There’s plenty I’d change about myself first, including unbiblical prejudices, but also the moral direction our society is moving. If I had the power, I’d do away with those things in me and in us that I believe are offensive to God. Alas, I “only” have the power of prayer.

So, to “live peaceably” aims at a moving target in a culture where offense and outrage are manufactured for political purpose. “As far as it depends on me,” I’ll try.

And yes, I do see the irony in my having outrage at outrage.

Steve Post is a Tallahassee resident, armchair theologian, and past local ministry lay leader. Contact him at sepost7678@gmail.com.